Iran, Russia support solving nuclear row through negotiations

Iran and Russia on Tuesday voiced their support for solving Tehran's nuclear standoff with the West through negotiations, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran and Russia have regular consultations on nuclear issue and the two countries have closer views on the issue," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.

Both Iran and Russia "are unanimous about settlement of the nuclear row through negotiations," said Larijani, who is also Iran 's chief nuclear negotiator.

He said that Russia is Iran's close friend and can play effective role in the process of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programs.

In his part, visiting Ivanov, Russia's Security Council chief, said that Moscow supported Iran-European Union (EU) negotiations which would pave the way for multi-lateral talks for cooperation, according to IRNA.

"The Russian Federation believes that all the issues concerning Iranian nuclear program should be settled at the negotiating table and Moscow would support such an approach," Ivanov added.

The West has been urging Iran to accept a package of incentives in return for halting its enrichment activities.

Iran, however, has reiterated that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy needs. It failed to meet the UN Security Council's deadline for suspending its uranium enrichment activities by Aug. 31.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told the Washington Times on Tuesday that a final round of talks scheduled this week between Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana should bring "clarity."

Source: Xinhua